Vax now to avoid a Covid tsunami

HERE in the tropics we’re experts at ‘cruising pace’.

Not raising a sweat is the aim and while we’ll speed up to make a dash for any aircon, our extreme heat goes best with our relaxed, leisurely lifestyle.

But while we and a handful of states and territories have been living life closer to normal than pretty much any other location around the globe, people in New South Wales and Victoria have been existing in an alternate universe.

Some have been restricted to the area immediately around their homes or their suburbs, many have seen their kids complete schooling by Zoom, they’ve been working from home and spending much of past year or more making sourdough and Tiktoks and whatever other lockdown fad was sweeping the globe, so you can bet they’re pretty keen to get back to a semblance of what we’ve been enjoying all along.

So keen, that despite the vaccine ‘strollout,’ and the PM’S early directive that vaccination against Covid wasn’t a ‘race,’ people from these southern states have been getting their sprint on, towards the promised finish line of ‘freedom’.

And with the new NSW

Premier the first to abandon the national plan that Covid-free states like ours were sticking to, it was inevitable that the Victorian Premier would be pressured to do the same. And while both states have easily met their vaccination targets, there are still many daily cases, currently, NSW is averaging 310, and Victoria 1913, with many in ICU.

So with calls for Queensland to reopen coming from people

desperate to holiday here, and Queensland tourism operators desperate to stay in business, there is an element of our population that seems oblivious as to how our Covid-free lifestyle is going to be affected.

We are about to experience a tsunami of southern visitors keen to exchange their grim winter for our celebrated sunshine.

And while the tourists will be vaccinated and free to enjoy all the North has to offer, our own residents are gambling with the clock.

If you haven’t felt the need to get protected against Covid because Covid wasn’t here, that’s

all about to change.

The Prime Minister slammed Queensland and Western Australia for sticking to the national plan of waiting for an 80 per cent vaccination rate before opening up while refusing to legislate to allow employers to mandate vaccinations for employees.

Big companies have gone it alone but what about small businesses?

With Queensland’s vaccination rate at only 70 per cent, it’s the unvaccinated who are most likely to spread any errant outbreaks headed our way.

And without a federal mandate,

the pressure will be on business operators to police vaccinations, a role they aren’t equipped for, but with the risk of an infection shutting down their business, they will have little choice.

So we need to help them.

There is a window of opportunity to get the first jab, allow enough time to have the second one, and for it to take effect, before we ‘open up.’

That window is now.

I’ve had both, it’s fast, free, and painless.

When the southern tsunami arrives, and with it any undetected cases of Covid, that window will have well and truly closed.

I know there are anti-vaxxers who read this column, are one of you able to tell me – do you sign in at shopping centres etc? I think I know the answer JB, 4812

Seeing Katter party members holding up a cold dead fish is a good metaphor for the party. Any whiff of nationalism and they’re on board in a second. People aren’t dumb, they know full well the seafood they’re eating is imported. A lot of people just aren’t cashed up enough to buy Australian.

JOHN, IDALIA

Who are these over educated university morons that come up with these yet another youth crime plan. Fair dinkum how about you do some hard work and actually sort this crap out. I’m sure these hardened criminals are just sitting back and laughing at you as we are. Only problem is we’re the joke, we have to put up with this crap and obviously these police that stand up and say what a great idea it is are only after political positions because the cop on the beat doesn’t appreciate it. STEVE, KIRWAN

CJ Yabulu re health minister banning Mcdonald’s, KFC etc. Great idea but the poor woman is flat out getting Queenslanders off their bums to get vaccinated in the face of a raging pandemic at the state’s border. Some even suggested vouchers for fast food in exchange for the vaccine. It’s a nowin situation either way.

JIM, 4817

Robbie Katter, pictured at Mt Isa’s mothballed Mica Creek power station for some reason, and a day after Bob’s bizarre rant, wants “less photo opportunities and more serious, practical discussions”. If lack of self-awareness was an energy source, the KAP could power the whole North West.

STEVE, BELGIAN GARDENS

Twelve months gone out of a four-year term for the Palaszczuk government next week and not one election promise including the Haughton pipeline stage 2 has eventuated, which is understandable considering all revenue will be earmarked for the southeast corner and the Olympics. RON, KELSO

You can always tell when Palaszczuk is quoting some corny catchphrase invented in a back room in Brisbane housing her army (actual number unknown, total secret) of spin doctors. She does a perfect Steven Miles impersonation smirking with a gloat in her voice. The latest one “jump on the lifeboat”. Is that the best combined effort 30 odd propagandists, oops spin doctors can do. Not very good value for us taxpayers Premier, I’m standing by the phone Premier if you want me to push this corny rubbish out for no charge. PEDRO GOOD CITIZEN, CRANBROOK

Great idea to stop illegal dumping.

Bring in a voucher system on rates. Then sack the idiot in council who changed the game. MICHAEL SPALDING IN DOUGLAS

Relaxed attitudes in the North are not helping the city avoid a potential Covid tsunami.

Instead of why are a 12 and 13 year old stealing a scissor lift, I think a better question is why are they out at 11pm on a school night! Parents do your job!